Niagara River Greenway Commission director resigns

Jeanne Leccese, who was named the executive director of the Niagara River Greenway Commission in September 2016, resigned from her post at a commission meeting on Tuesday.

Leccese left to join the staff at Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper. The nonprofit is dedicated to protection of the Niagara watershed, which is one of Leccese's passions, said Lou Paonessa, a commission board member and director of community affairs for the New York Power Authority.

Leccese, through an automatic email reply, stated that she was no longer working for the Niagara River Greenway Commission. No other comment was available on Wednesday.

Angela P. Berti, spokesperson for the Western District New York State Office of Parks, is temporarily handling the duties of Leccese. Berti confirmed that Leccese had "found a new opportunity" and said the commission will begin searching for a new executive director.